Laudrup buoyed by second-half show

11 November 2013 05:16

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Swansea manager Michael Laudrup believes his side will have no problem climbing the Barclays Premier League table if they can repeat their second-half performance against Stoke.

The Swans have now won just two of their last 10 games in all competitions, but they had looked to be sliding to defeat against the Potters when Jon Walters and Stephen Ireland put the visitors two goals to the good.

However, the hosts were rejuvenated after the break and a Wilfried Bony brace plus Nathan Dyer's strike had them on course for a win until Charlie Adam's controversial stoppage-time penalty ensured the game ended 3-3.

The result means Swansea sit 13th in the table heading into the international break, only two points above the relegation zone, but their manager saw enough against Stoke to know they can kick on when league action resumes.

He said: "If you look at our attacking play, in the second half we did well. We did well in the first half against Kuban Krasnodar on Thursday, and in the second half against Sunderland.

"People have said recently we have had some problems in the last third but, on the other hand, defensively we are conceding less chances than in the last part of last season.

"So if we can add the sort of attacking play we have seen in some games then it should be no problem."

Bony's double, which took him to 10 goals for the season, highlighted the Ivory Coast forward's finishing ability as he dispatched a close-range header and a composed left-foot finish.

Laudrup has been careful in his use of his Â£12million summer signing and recently admitted the player was doing extra work in training to help him adapt to the pace and physical demands of the Barclays Premier League.

But he feels the former Vitesse Arnhem man has shown real signs of progress in recent games.

He said: "We spoke about him a couple of weeks ago. We are still trying to find his best condition and help him adapt. I am really happy to see him score two goals, it has not been an easy period for him because it is always difficult with a certain price tag on your shoulders.

"But he performed really well in midweek, especially in the first half, and the same here.

"Scoring goals is very important, it's not everything, but I can see in training every day he is working really hard, he wants to improve. But he is judged on the goals so it is important, especially with Michu injured."